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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 2004)
Page 2 Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, February 11, 2004 This is a strange time of year, what with a small naked guy flying overhead and shooting poisoned ar- rows of love and affection; followed by the birthday observance of Presidents Washington and Lincoln. If not for them, we wouldn’t have Washington, D.C. (District of Criminals), and an automobile from the Ford Motor Co. The fly guy’s name is Cupid, which rhymes with stupid, putrid and (almost) limpid. Cupid is supposed to assist in the art of romance, but depending on where the arrows lodge, the reaction could be less than encouraging. His quiver sometimes doesn’t result in the same for those he targets. Rapidly moving away from the unclothed armed, airborne boy, we note that some people, especially those who get to have the day off with pay, wonder how it is that George and Abe were born on a holiday. Actually, they were born on different days, but some other president ruled that we should observe the birth- days simultaneously, possibly to reduce the fire dan- ger from all those candles on the cake. George is known as the Father of Our Country, which is an interesting concept, possibly related to Cupid, which is an area I thought we had vacated. No mention is made of the Mother of Our Country, but she must have been quite a woman. Meanwhile, Lin- coln, according to historical writing, was known as Honest Abe, apparently because he walked 34 miles in the dark during a blinding snowstorm to return 1- cent to a storekeeper who gave him too much change. For this reason, Lincoln gets his mug on our pre- sent-day penny. Something like that. We have read though, that the nickname occurred when Lincoln staggered into the store with the penny frozen into one hand and told the storekeeper about the excess change. To which the man replied, “Honest, Abe?” This might not be a true rendition. Washington is also known for his honesty. Most everyone knows the story about his taking his hatchet and chopping down a cherry tree near his house. When asked by his father -- whose name, strangely enough is not commonly known -- if he cut down the sapling, Washington is said to have stated, “Father, I cannot tell a lie. I chopped down the tree.” Or words to that effect. What his father replied is not well re- corded, but it might have been cause for “expletive deleted.” Somehow, Washington did not become known as Honest George, Cherry Boy or Hatchet Kid. I still wonder about the story, because in our experience, young boys almost invariably chop one knee or the other, or damage a finger or two, way before they at- tack any handy trees. It’s in the genes. So here it is that time of year, when our thoughts turn to Cupid, Washington and Lincoln. Beware of arrows, hatchets and loose pennies. T A I C H I I N S T R U C T I O N O N G O I N G C L A S S E S W I T H S I F U V I O L A B R U M B A U G H 5 9 2 - 2 9 8 8 AT THE SELMA COMMUNITY CENTER MON. AND WED. 6:00 - 7:30 P.M. Illinois Valley News An Independent Weekly Newspaper Co-owned and published by Robert R. (Bob) and Jan Rodriguez Bob Rodriguez, Editor El Jefe Entered as second class matter June 11, 1937 at Post Office as Official Newspaper for Josephine County and Josephine County Three Rivers School District, published at 321 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523 Periodicals postage paid at Cave Junction, OR 97523 Post Office Box 1370 USPS 258-820 Telephone (541) 592-2541, FAX (541) 592-4330 Volume 66, No. 47 Staff: Cindy Newton, Chris Robertson, Michelle Binker, Shane Welsh, Becky Loudon & Kacy Clement Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association DEADLINES: News, Classified & Display Ads, Announcements & Letters 3 P.M. FRIDAY (Classified ads & uncomplicated display ads can be accepted until Noon, Monday with an additional charge.) POLICY ON LETTERS: ‘Illinois Valley News’ welcomes letters to the editor provided they are of general interest, in good taste, legible and not libelous. All letters must be signed, using complete name, and contain the writer’s address and telephone number. The latter need not be published, but will be used to verify authenticity. The ‘News’ reserves the right to edit letters. One letter per person per month. Letters are used at the discretion of the publisher. Unpublished letters are neither acknowledged nor returned. A prepaid charge may be levied if a letter is inordinately long in the editor's opinion. POLICY ON “HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE”, DISPLAY & CLASSIFIED ADS & NOTICES: All submissions must be hand delivered, faxed or e-mailed to us for publication. Submissions must be resubmitted each week if the item is to run for more than one week. SUBSCRIPTION RATES One year in Josephine County - $20.80 One year in Jackson and Douglas Counties - $24.40 One year in all other Oregon counties and out-of-state - $28 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction, OR. 97523 (Editor’s Note: Views and commentary ex- pressed in letters to the editor are strictly those of the letter-writers. * * * Typed, double- spaced letters are ac- ceptable for considera- tion. Hand-written letters that are double-spaced and highly legible also can be considered for publication. Cards of thanks are not accepted as letters.) * * * Where’s shame? the From John Bazen Cave Junction Under the so-called “right to privacy,” we have since the 1970s legal mur- der, which most call abor- tion. In fact, more than 40 million unborn humans have been executed with no trial, no jury, no de- fense. Now under this pri- vacy, we will have same- sex marriage; plus a new claim to the Utah courts to allow bigamy. This came right after the Texas sod- omy deal; such laws are now struck down, under privacy concerns. What will be next? Pedophiles do not op- erate in public, but in pri- vacy, so will this be next? Will those who wish to rape, steal, rob and kill, most of which is also done in private, be on the court steps for their “rights?” Why is this happen- ing? Liberals want nothing hard, but all laws to be soft and fuzzy, and to change a man’s yes and no to no and yes. This includes the laws of God. Now is this not the same crowd that gutted the CIA, with the “Tortacelli Amendment” and the “Church Amendment?” Yup. Both are liberals, yet the Dems are now scream- ing at the Republicans over a lack of intelligence. Go figure. Remember there is no figuring out liberal thinking (you know...soft and fuzzy, no reality.) If you do not accept this train of thought, ask anyone older than 60 about the crime rates during the 1950s, or the words used by children then as com- pared to today. Now ask yourself, “Is this due to our national outlook of: ‘If it feels good, do it,’ ‘if not near the one you love, love the one you’re near,’ ‘there are no absolutes in truth, nor right or wrong,’ ‘there’s a separation, a wall between church and state’?” Can you still hear the Dems hollering, “America has lost her reputation around the world?” The above are the biggest rea- sons why. All of man’s past em- pires died from internal pressures of three common problems: 1. No morals. 2. High taxes 3. Internal cor- ruption. Why does America refuse to see? Have the Lib’s dumbed us down? Where’s the balance? CRT boosters From Jerry & Sharon Work Kerby We were new to Illi- nois Valley two years ago, having finally found in Kerby just the property we had been looking for, the 1907 Masonic Temple that serves as our fine furniture studio on the first floor, with living quarters on the second. It had one big draw- back, one that affects most residents of Kerby: no reli- able source of potable wa- ter. To address this pri- mary need we learned that certain inspired citizens, with the guidance and sup- port of the Illinois Valley Community Response Team (IVCRT), were forming the Kerby Water District. Their hard work has paid off in that the dis- trict is now an official en- tity, and governmental processes are grinding along to eventually, hope- fully, bring us clean city water through pipes. We can look forward the day of no more pol- luted well water that disap- pears in the summers; no more reliance upon water trucks to fill our cisterns; perhaps even the luxury of use of a dishwasher. You have to love the organization that makes such progress possible for a community. And in our cases, we have volunteered to serve on the CRT Board of Directors. It is the least we can do– to give back to the non-profit organization that exists for our benefit. The list of accomplish- ments of the CRT during its existence is long. Come to the meeting at Lorna Byrne at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, to learn about the structure of this organization and how you can become involved. Committees are forming, nominations for the board of directors are needed, volunteer opportunities are being defined. Attend the annual meeting March 30 at the County Building. Inquire. Learn. Grow with us. Participate. CRT is in a time of transition as it nears the end of its original mandate. Having recently made his- tory by receiving the con- tract to manage conces- sions at Oregon Caves Na- tional Monument, it has a new life for the next dec- ade as a non-profit entity managing property for the U.S. government. Successful manage- ment of this business will generate funds for use in our valley. It is up to us, you ,me, our neighbors, to figure out how best to use these funds. SILENT SENTINALS - Standing in solidarity for justice, civil society and peaceful co-existence with kindred spirits worldwide, the Women in Black and Friends hold a silent vigil each week at the county bldg. to op- pose violence in any form. (Photo by Michelle Binker) December distilled spirits sales soar, reports OLCC Oregon liquor stores sold nearly 10 percent more distilled spirits dur- ing December 2003 than the previous December, said Oregon Liquor Con- trol Commission (OLCC). Sales jumped from $31.5 million to $34.6 mil- lion, OLCC said. The record December capped off a year of solid sales growth: an increase of $17 million in 2003 from 2002, from $261 mil- lion to $278 million (up 6.51 percent). Last year, agency stores sold 1.9 mil- lion cases of liquor, up from 1.8 million cases in 2002, a 5.28 percent in- crease. The sales increase mir- rors a continuing trend seen all across the country, said OLCC liquor buyer Jim Dodge. "Customers are buying the higher-end liquors, items like top-of-the-line vodkas, whiskey, and sin- gle malt scotches," he ex- plained. "For the past few years, the spirits industry has been making changes, creating products and packaging that appeals to a broader market. And the recent move to cable tele- vision advertising has also been positive for the indus- try." R o u t i n e t u rn o v e r opens doors for new liquor agents, said OLCC. Every agent operating one of OLCC's 239 liquor stores was appointed after a pub- lic application and selec- tion process. There are several openings each year when operators resign, retire, or leave for other reasons, said Jim Mac Alistaire, OLCC store operations director. OLCC is seeking to fill five agent vacancies by May in Waldport, Port- land, Long Creek, Port Orford and Unity. Appli- cations are due Feb. 20. "We look for the most qualified person to operate a store," said Mac Alis- taire. "We consider appli- cants over 21 only, and they should have knowl- edge of retail operations, inventory control, cus- tomer service, cash ac- countability and more." For details, telephone (800) 426-2004, Ext. 5020 Mail to: 9079 S.E. McLoughlin, Portland, OR 97222, or visit the agency's W e b s i t e a t www.olcc.state.or.us. Same-sex marriage From Roan McClure Cave Junction Because this subject has been put to the fore- front by Massachusetts, each state will have to face the issue. I have thought for some time how to express the concerns that many people have, regarding the Massachusetts law provid- (Continued on page 3) Citizen of the Year and Business of the Year for 2003 accomplishments are sought by Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce, 592-3326. Deadline Sunday, Feb. 15 Nominee____________________ Affiliation___________________ Comments_________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ (use blank sheet of paper, if necessary) Nominator & phone number__________________________________ *** Awards will be presented during a general chamber meeting on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. in Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. in Cave Junction. Refreshments will be served.